Will a sting follow recruiting buzz?

July 25, 2006|BOB WIENEKE and JEFF CARROLL Tribune Staff Writers

Not long after Charlie Weis was hired as Notre Dame's coach, he placed a call to recruiting analyst Tom Lemming. Among the first things Lemming told Weis was one of his recruiting mantras: It's all about perception. "I was (telling him), 'There's no electricity in recruiting and they need to do stuff like USC's been doing,'æ" Lemming recalled. The Trojans hosted junior days, getting an early jump on prep phenoms. Head coach Pete Carroll acted like one of the guys, high-fiving his players and building a top-five (and beyond) program. Even his jokes, like having a dummy of running back LenDale White dropped off a building, made the news. "Pete Carroll is the master of it," Lemming said. "Everything he does is for the cameras." Better recruits often equate to better results on the field. And that in turn means more scrutiny, something USC has experienced and Notre Dame could be in store for. For the Trojans, recently, the scrutiny has been for all the wrong reasons. -Heisman Trophy winner Reggie Bush's family grabbed headlines when it was learned it was leasing a $750,000 house from a man linked to a sports agent. -Wide receiver Dwayne Jarrett has been declared ineligible after it was reported that teammate Matt Leinart's father paid a large sum of Jarrett's rent for an apartment Jarrett and Matt Leinart shared. -Backup quarterback Mark Sanchez was arrested for suspicion of sexual assault, although charges were not filed. Those matters have brought a black eye to a team that is loaded with blue-chip talent. "There's a buzz about USC recruiting," Lemming said, "and now there's a buzz about Notre Dame recruiting." Jimmy Clausen's April 22 announcement at the College Football Hall of Fame definitely created a USC-like buzz, one that is sure to attract the attention of top-notch talent. The buzz, as has happened in the case of USC, can sometimes be followed by a sting.